West Baton Rouge Parish is named for “baton rouge” being French words meaning “red stick” referring to a tall cypress tree stripped of its bark and draped with freshly killed animals that marked the boundary between the hunting grounds of two Indian tribes in 1699.
Created: March 31, 1807
County Seat:
St Michael 1807 – 1854
Port Allen 1854 – present
Parish Courthouse – Port Allen
Location: 850 8th Street / Louisiana Avenue
Built: 1956 – 1957
Style: Modern Greek Revival
Architect: Goodman and Miller and John H Farrens Jr.
Contractor: Ross E Cox
Description: The building faces west and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Port Allen The west front has a large portico with six high columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. The center of the building extends from the main building which has two story north and south wings. The large courtroom is located on the north side of the second story.
Old Parish Courthouse – Port Allen
Location: 845 Jefferson Avenue / Courthouse Street
Built: 1882
Style: Greek Revival
Architect: Henry Thiberge
Contractor: Adolph Thieson.
Description: The building faces east and is a one story white colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Port Allen to the east of the courthouse. The east front has four white colored columns. And a recessed arched entrance. The roof is hipped. The building houses the West Baton Rouge Museum.
Note: The first courthouse was built in St Michael in 1807. The parish seat was moved to Port Allen in 1854 and the second courthouse was built. The building was sold in 1870 but was then rented until the third courthouse was built. The third courthouse was designed by Henry Thiberge and constructed by Adolph Thieson in 1882. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1956 to 1957.
Courthouses:
N – Pointe Coupee Parish, West Feliciana Parish and East Feliciana Parish
S – Iberville Parish
W – Iberville Parish
Parish Courthouse – Port Allen
Photos taken 2011 and 2019